Robertson Focused on “Bread and Butter”: Assists and Clean Sheets

A goal or two would be nice, but Andy Robertson is more than happy with assists and clean sheets.

Since becoming Liverpool’s first choice left back, Andy Robertson has just one goal to his credit—the final marker in Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Brighton on the last day of the 2017-18 season. The 24-year-old Scotland captain, though, isn’t concerning himself with that.

“Hopefully it’s coming but I’m happy to keep giving assists and [getting] clean sheets,” he said. “That’s my bread and butter. We have had a lot of clean sheets this season and we need to keep doing that—if we get a clean sheet, that’s half the battle to win the game.”

A clean sheet to get Liverpool half way there and an assist to help with the other half. To that end, in addition to helping on Xherdan Shaqiri’s goal against Fulham over the weekend, Robertson has four more assists—for five in total—in his 15 appearances so far this season.

Last year, along with the goal against Brighton, he recorded five assists in 30 appearances for the Reds. While Liverpool’s attack hasn’t, on the whole, always looked as sharp this season as it did last, Robertson’s contributions going forward have only increased.

According to the Liverpool Echo, though, that doesn’t necessarily mean a new contract is on the way—despite rumours earlier in the months that the club were seeking to reward the player with an improved deal to reflect his importance to Jürgen Klopp’s long-term plans.

That’s because there are three-and-a-half years to run on his current contract, and that contract already included a number of performance- and appearance-based escalators that Roberston has triggered, increasing his base wage without the need for a new deal.

“I love assisting,” Robertson added. “It’s a lot more natural to me than scoring. If I can help the team by putting a cross in for Shaq—and he made a great finish [on Sunday]—it’s always nice to get an assist and contribute going forward.”